Florence’s Uffizi Gallery was temporarily closed to the public because of the heat

Italy and the Balkans were worst affected, though areas as far north as southern Poland also basked in abnormally hot temperatures, and European weather hub Meteoalarm issued its highest grade “red” warnings for 10 countries.

At least two people have died from the heat – one in Romania and one in Poland – and many more have been taken to hospital suffering from sunstroke and other heat-related conditions.

Italy reported a 15% spike in admissions as a result of the stifling heat.

In Albania, 300 firefighters and soldiers struggled to contain as many as 75 forest fires and the country asked the European Union for emergency help.

Firefighters were also busy in Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia and Croatia.

With temperatures expected to stay around 40 degrees Celsius into next week, authorities advised people to increase their water intake and Red Cross volunteers across Europe visited the homeless and elderly and other people at risk.

People enjoy the sun and the sea on a beach in Villeneuve Loubet, southern France

“This prolonged period of extremely hot weather is particularly dangerous for people with existing health problems such heart conditions, high blood pressure and asthma, as well as older people and children,” said Jeya Kulasingam, health coordinator for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Europe.

“It is vital that people stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, keep out of the sun and avoid over-exertion.”

Wine growers in Italy have started gathering the grape harvest weeks earlier than usual due to the extreme heat.

Bosnian officials said the heat wave and drought had nearly halved agricultural output, which accounts for 10% of the country’s economic output.

Neighbouring Serbia reported a similar situation and experts said drought could slash corn and soybean production by a third.

In neighbouring Croatia the heat wave and peak tourist season has driven power demand and spot prices to record levels, officials said on Friday.

Temperatures along parts of Croatia’s Adriatic coast, including the major tourist hub of Dubrovnik, already stood at around 32 degrees early on Friday morning and were expected to nudge up to 42 degrees during the day, the weather service said.

The Red Cross distributed water and hand fans to people suffering from the heat in Croatia especially tourists visiting outdoor events and motorists stuck in typical summer traffic jams.

“In two hours of my shift today I saw four people fainting on the street and complaining of heat exhaustion,” a traffic warden who identified himself as Goran told Reuters in the Serbian capital Belgrade.

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